Tuesday, 22 January 2013

AFCON viewing right: Shame of a Nation

The official 2013 AFCON Ball.


After watching Cyril Stober and his panel of analysts at one of the weekly Tuesday-Live programmes on the Nigeria Television Authority, a friend who watched the programme simultaneously phoned me and asked rhetorically, “So, an average Nigerian won’t get to see live pictures from the 29th African Cup of Nations in South Africa on an indigenous television station – where Nigeria is a major force and participant?” Promptly, I replied him, “What more can you get in a land where absurdities thrive?”

But wait a minute! How on earth has the mighty fallen and descended to this ludicrous stage? By the way, who plunged Nigeria into this mess? These are questions, among others, that a majority of the people cannot answer with all modesty and honesty.
The 29th edition of the AFCON, apparently the biggest sporting event on the continent, is underway already with Nigeria in firm participation. But back home, an average Nigerian has been sardonically denied the opportunity to watch the Super Eagles take on other countries. No thanks to the failure of government and lackadaisical approach of some administrators who are just there for their hedonistic benefit and pecuniary affluence.
It is a known fact that football is the common language every Nigerian speaks and it’s apparently the only unifying factor in the Nigerian system. An average septuagenarian can easily recall the names of some footballers but may never know the head of the Nigerian Sports Commission or even the Deputy President of the Senate.

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